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Shangula issues warning amid rising COVID cases

Shangula issues warning amid rising COVID cases

Clifton Movirongo Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula says the ministry does not wish to return to a situation when it becomes imperative to re-introduce restrictive measures amid rising COVID-19 positive cases in the Khomas region. This comes as Namibia has recorded a total number of 303 new COVID-19 confirmed cases in the last 48 hours as Khomas region records an alarming number of 117 positive cases out of 181 cases reported on Friday, 4 December. On Thursday, Namibia recorded 122 positive cases of COVID-19. “The significant increase in the number of confirmed cases across country is worrisome especially coming at…
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NUST VC judgment postponed

NUST VC judgment postponed

Helena Johannes The High Court is set to deliver its judgement in the case where Professor Frednard Gideon is challenging the appointment of Dr Erold Naomab as the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) to the 9th December 2020, Lawyer Sisa Namandje has revealed. This comes after the case was heard in the High Court on Friday, the 4th of December 2020. Namandje and his client, Professor Frednard Gideon, are seeking to set aside the NUST Council decision made on the 12th of November 2020 to select Naomab as their preferred candidate to be appointed…
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LPM challenges election rerun bid

LPM challenges election rerun bid

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has filed an urgent application to the High Court to oppose Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)’s case to have the results of the elections in Aroab and Koës local authorities in the //Kharas region and Stampriet and Mariental Rural constituency in the Hardap region voided. According to the party, an election re-run in areas of the southern region where it currently has a stronghold would be a waste of taxpayer money. “When you look at it, only about 67 votes is where there are disparities and we’re saying, those 67 votes don’t make any…
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HIV/AIDS still leading cause of death in Namibia  …as 3,000 succumb to disease in 2020

HIV/AIDS still leading cause of death in Namibia …as 3,000 succumb to disease in 2020

Helena Johannes The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that HIV/AIDS is still the main leading cause of death in Namibia regardless of the prevention measures available. According to Dr Eric Dziuban, CDC Country Director, the continued existence of HIV positive people who are not on treatment, is one of the main causes of death in Namibia. “If you are HIV positive and not on treatment, the virus attacks your body and can make you very sick, very quickly. Technically people do not die from AIDS, they die from other diseases that are able to attack the…
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National Oil Storage Facility testing to begin

National Oil Storage Facility testing to begin

The Ministry of Mines and energy has announced that it welcomed its first vessel at the N$5.5 billion National Oil and Petroleum Storage Facility at Walvis Bay at the beginning of the month. The arrival of the vessel and its planned offloading of fuel at the facility is part of the final testing of the facility. “The vessel is scheduled to offload 35 000 tonnes of diesel as part of the final testing on completion of the project. Our technical teams will continue to test the facility as part of the final stage of the construction phase of the project,”…
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6 Ways to Avoid Overspending this Season

6 Ways to Avoid Overspending this Season

Staff Writer As the holiday cheer takes hold, we’re bound to be tempted to spend more than we should, but having fun shouldn’t mean overspending. Budgets may seem restrictive and not part of the festive picture you have for your holiday, but ultimately they’re tools to help you live better. ‘We know that consumers spent more on their credit cards in December than any other month of the year – most of it on luxury goods and entertainment. Whether you’re staying home or going away, if you’re not keeping an eye on your expenses, overboard is where you’re headed’ says…
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The Namibian debt capital market: a rough diamond that’s ready to sparkle

The Namibian debt capital market: a rough diamond that’s ready to sparkle

Ray Auala Jr The benefits of deep capital markets in emerging economies is well known, and a fundamental pillar of this is the bond market. Although researchers may debate the specific impact the debt capital markets have on economic growth in developing nations, they cannot dispute that a positive link does exist. A welcomed reality when one considers the strides the Namibian bond market has made in recent years in achieving the long-term objective of becoming a world-class capital market. Here are a few notable achievements: 1. The local debt market has 29 Corporate and SOE bonds, including one green…
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Understanding regional and local elections

Understanding regional and local elections

Willem N Namboga Regional and local elections are important, but many people do not understand how they are constituted. The President and the members of the National Assembly represent all the people of Namibia. But individual communities need other government bodies which are closer to them to focus on the issues and problems of the community. Local government focuses on the needs of the people who live in that local authority. Regional and local councilors are important contacts for lobbying on regional and local issues. Some regions are very well developed, with many schools and clinics and a good supply…
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DBN plans N$500m relief facility

DBN plans N$500m relief facility

Staff Writer The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) is planning a N$500 million Covid-19 relief facility in the first quarter of 2021. According to DBN CEO Martin Inkumbi, this is in addition to the N$500 million made available by the Ministry of Finance to be offered by commercial banks. “The Bank, is committed to financing Namibian economic activity, and will take all feasible measures to ensure its health,” Inkumbi said. This comes as preliminary figures of the bank for the first two quarters to September of 2020/21 show the expected adverse impact of Covid-19 and risk-aversion on demand for SME…
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Book Review: The Icabog – JK Rowling

Book Review: The Icabog – JK Rowling

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Having more time inside these days, I have been a readin’ fool. One of the books I jumped on was The Icabog, by JK Rowling. This soon to be classic for generations to come was originally published on November 10, 2020. For the billionaire author of the Harry Potter series of books, the writing skills of the great Ms Rowling are never better in this new book. It was released online in parts over the past year, but the complete text just came out. I couldn’t stand the piecemeal thing, so I waited patiently for the real…
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